English As A Second Language

brownbook · Nov 24, 2017

It depends. If you are the only one who does not understand then you should work on your listening skills.

Thank you I will strive to work on my listening skills.

kakamegamama · Nov 24, 2017

The only time an accent should be an issue is in the case of patient safety.....mainly pronunciation of medications. Some sound very similar, and if one cannot pronounce them correctly, a patient's safety could be at risk. So sorry you experienced this.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 24, 2017

Brownbook,

it completely OK to let others know if you do not understand their speech. It is also completely OK to let others know that you have hearing problems.

It takes two (to tango) to communicate, and people speaking with accented English are aware of it. Just ask to slow down and speak slower/louder, or, for the last instance, write things down - but it is up to YOU to ask. It is not rude to do that. Rude is to start asking personal and irrelevant questions and then bash that person for nothing but that accent.

Charge200J, BSN · Nov 24, 2017

Keep practicing medical terminology and medication pronunciation...all nursing students need to do this, not just ESL students. You will do great. Knowing multiple languages is a huge asset and will be very helpful to you throughout your career.

brownbook · Nov 24, 2017

Brownbook,
it completely OK to let others know if you do not understand their speech. It is also completely OK to let others know that you have hearing problems.
It takes two (to tango) to communicate, and people speaking with accented English are aware of it. Just ask to slow down and speak slower/louder, or, for the last instance, write things down - but it is up to YOU to ask. It is not rude to do that. Rude is to start asking personal and irrelevant questions and then bash that person for nothing but that accent.

Thank you all I will strive to do better in the future. This post has taught me a lot and changed my thinking 180 degrees.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 24, 2017

Hi. I am a nursing student in second year. I came here 15 yrs ago. Spanish is my native language. I know English, but I have a strong accent. I am doing good in school and clinicals. However, a medsurg nurse told my instructor that I have issues with pronunciation and that makes me less competent as a nurse. My instructor got into an argument with her about me. I cried because I really try to do my best in school. I feel depressed and so insecure now. I need to grow thicker skin.
The nurse was so friendly with me. However, she turned out to be so hipocrite. I haven't work with her, and she just decided to tell my instructor that about me. I understand that sometimes I have a hard time pronouncing medication names and medical terms. But, she doesn't know me enough to make that statement. How can I improve my pronunciation? Thank you!

The fact that the nurse was friendly and then expressed a concern to your instructor does not make her a hypocrite. It means that she's a friendly person -- and that's what most students say they are looking for when they're assigned a nurse to work with -- AND she has a concern about your pronunciation. The concern is real -- communication is a big deal. After one shift, I would expect that she knows you enough to know whether you can make yourself understood in spoken English.

I'm impressed by anyone who can learn a second language, truly I am. One of my orientees speaks 7 and is working on her 8th. I'm in awe of her. But she works really, really hard on her pronunciation of medical terms. She has asked me to NEVER let a mispronunciation pass unchallenged, and that's difficult because after awhile, I know what she MEANS. But others may not. So we work on it. We make it fun by having a competition -- for every medical term I have to correct her on, she teaches me a word in her native language. At the end of the shift, we test each other and whoever loses brings coffee for both of us the next time we work. (Usually I lose.) If we both learn a new medical term or medication name at the same time, she's usually correcting MY pronunciation the first few times. Again, I buy the coffee. When she gets off orientation, I've already racked up a significant debt in buying margaritas as well.

You just need to learn to pronounce "medicalese" properly. Not that big of a deal. Even native English speakers need to learn to pronounce medicalese.

brownbook · Nov 25, 2017

The fact that the nurse was friendly and then expressed a concern to your instructor does not make her a hypocrite. It means that she's a friendly person -- and that's what most students say they are looking for when they're assigned a nurse to work with -- AND she has a concern about your pronunciation. The concern is real -- communication is a big deal. After one shift, I would expect that she knows you enough to know whether you can make yourself understood in spoken English.
I'm impressed by anyone who can learn a second language, truly I am. One of my orientees speaks 7 and is working on her 8th. I'm in awe of her. But she works really, really hard on her pronunciation of medical terms. She has asked me to NEVER let a mispronunciation pass unchallenged, and that's difficult because after awhile, I know what she MEANS. But others may not. So we work on it. We make it fun by having a competition -- for every medical term I have to correct her on, she teaches me a word in her native language. At the end of the shift, we test each other and whoever loses brings coffee for both of us the next time we work. (Usually I lose.) If we both learn a new medical term or medication name at the same time, she's usually correcting MY pronunciation the first few times. Again, I buy the coffee. When she gets off orientation, I've already racked up a significant debt in buying margaritas as well.
You just need to learn to pronounce "medicalese" properly. Not that big of a deal. Even native English speakers need to learn to pronounce medicalese.

Ruby, I believe from what I've learned from my gracious Allnurses is that is language discrimination. Please re read the posts.

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Nov 25, 2017

How can I improve my pronunciation?

The same way that I endeavor to improve my Spanish pronunciation... by studying American pronunciation, listening to well-paced, well-dictioned native speakers, and practicing over and over... get good recordings and then practice recording yourself and keep at it. I've been doing it with Spanish for over 10 years. You've got a huge advantage, though, in that you are immersed in the language.

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Nov 25, 2017

I don't know how heavy is the OP's accent but there are plenty of people with great written English skills whose accents are so thick as to be an impediment to being understood. I personally don't find that issue with Spanish accents but some Asians and certain parts of the Indian sub-continent are nearly incomprehensible to me despite the fact that their syntax, grammar, and usage are perfect.

Pronunciation is an integral and valid part of language skills and the onus is on the speaker in the health-care environment to make themselves understood and a heavy accent can be an impediment.

I will point out that I can barely understand some Brits who speak with heavy Cockney accents.

It's not discrimination, it's effective communication.

brownbook · Nov 25, 2017

No I have been re educated it is language discrimination and you cannot correct them. I am so enlightened now!

allnurses Guide · Nov 25, 2017

I REALLY do not see anything wrong with a native English speaking nurse, helping a non-native speaker with their pronunciation of medical terms and various other terms, especially when receiving that help is going to be vital in their nursing practice, or any other career.

Think about it.

You're the patient. You're sick. Really sick. You've never been in the hospital before. You're scared. Overwhelmed.

In your room, comes nurse Florence. She's from France but moved here with her family about 10 years ago. Speaks English well but with a very very heavy accent.

You know she's speaking English, and you know she's giving you instructions, but darn it if you can understand much of what she is saying.

But, you are scared and overwhelmed, and with that, you are afraid to ask this nurse, who is rather intimidating, to repeat what she just said.

---------------------------------------------------

I'm not saying anything bad about foreign born nurses, and I know that just learning English is a huge accomplishment, let alone pronouncing much of it correctly. I'm just saying that there's nothing wrong with pointing out that their pronunciation is very difficult or flat out wrong, and helping them to use better, clearer pronunciation at LEAST when working with their patients or clients.

I'm also NOT saying that it is okay to shame or bash some-one for their accent. Maybe what I pointed out above is shaming. I don't know. I had just read Ruby Vee's account and didn't find anything at all wrong with what she was doing with her coworker.

brownbook · Nov 25, 2017

I repeat I have been re educated. That is language discrimination.